Cautiously optimistic.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is “cautiously optimistic” about the negotiations happening in the Congressional Transportation conference Committee. Speaking to reporters, Reid stated, "We always know the last 20 percent is the hardest, but we passed a bipartisan bill that will keep about 2.8 million people either working or create jobs to that amount. So I am again cautiously optimistic that we can get this done." Have you sent a letter to your members of Congress urging them to support passage of the Senate’s transportation bill?

Strolling for safer chemicals.Approximately 200 mothers and children formed the National Stroller Brigade on Tuesday when visited Capitol Hill to pass Safe Chemicals Act. The bill — which is supported by the BlueGreen Alliance — would reform America’s outdated Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 in order to give the Environmental Protection Agency the power it needs to ensure the safety of the chemicals produced and used in the U.S.

Fuel economy #1!Consumer Reports has released its newest survey of American auto consumers, and it found Americans rank fuel economy as the most important consideration when buying a new car with questions of quality, safety, value and performance trailing at a distance.

National and International Blue-Green

According to Reuters, China “signaled on Wednesday it wanted to ramp up private investment in its energy sector.”

Bloomberg say manufacturing demand in United Kingdom fell to its lowest point in May.

President Obama is traveling to Iowa to discuss renewable energy. The Washington Post has more.

A National Journal poll found 64 percent of Americans — including 78 percent of Democrats, 64 percent of Independents and 48 percent of Republicans — support extending the Renewable Energy Tax Credit nearing expiration.

Following up on its four-part series on the dangers of fire retardants, the Chicago Tribune looks at the growing pressure to limit the chemicals in children’s products. The paper also reports a study has found “black and Latino toddlers may have significantly higher levels of toxic flame retardants in their bodies than white children.”

Moody’s Investors Service raised Ford’s debt to investment-grade for the first time in five years Tuesday. The Hill quotes Burce Clark, senior vice president at Moody’s, as saying, “The key factor in our considering an investment-grade rating for Ford was whether or not the company would be able to sustain its strong performance. We concluded that the improvements Ford has made are likely to be lasting.”

Legislation was introduced in Australia to establish a government-owned Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The Australian has more.

To the States

E&E Publishing and Huffington Post look at how New York City and North Carolina are confronting the problems associated with climate change and rising sea levels.

A Oregon light-rail project received a bump this week when the Federal Transit Administrator announced the federal government will give fifty percent of the funding needed. OPB News has more on the project that could create up to 14,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The Bay Citizen looks at why several San Francisco solar projects are on hold.